City Council

Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on November 16, 2021 -1– The Closed Session Meeting of the Petersburg City Council was held on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at the Petersburg Public Library. Mayor Parham called the Closed Session Meeting to order at 4:17 p.m. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Council Member Charles H. Cuthbert, Jr. Council Member W. Howard Myers Council Member Darrin Hill Vice Mayor Annette Smith-Lee Mayor Samuel Parham Absent: Council Member Treska Wilson-Smith Present from City Administration: City Manager Stuart Turille City Attorney Anthony Williams Clerk of Council Nykesha D. Jackson 2. CLOSED SESSION: a. The purpose of this meeting is to convene in the closed session pursuant to §2.2-3711(A)(1) of the Code of Virginia for the purpose of discussion pertaining to the appointment of specific public of the performance, assignment and appointment of a specific public officer of the City of Petersburg; and under subsection §2.2-3711(A)(7) and (8) of the Code of Virginia for the purpose of receiving legal advice and status update from the City Attorney and legal consultation regarding the subject of specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by the City Attorney, specifically including but not limited to discussion regarding potential litigation concerning a current public contract; and under subsection 2.2-3711(A)(29) of the Code of Virginia for the purpose of the discussion of the award of a public contract involving the expenditure of public funds, including interviews of bidders or offerors, and discussion of the terms or scope of such contract, where discussion in an open session would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body. Mayor Parham stated, “I need a motion to add discussion of the subject of a prospective business or industry locating in the City, a public contract of the Virginia Court Appeals of the Virginia Circuit Court Case NO.: 21-6085 to the closed session tonight. Also, to add item 4 casino proposal and use of Robert Bobb possibly to use some land tech for football field. Council Member Myers made a motion that the City Council go into closed session for the purposes noted. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. There was no discussion on the motion, which was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Myers, Hill, Smith-Lee, and Parham; Absent: Wilson-Smith City Council entered closed session at 4:18 p.m. CERTIFICATION: Mr. Williams stated, “The Mayor would entertain a motion to conclude the closed session called this evening to certify in accordance with §2.2-3712 that the Code of Virginia that to the best of each members *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on November 16, 2021 -2– knowledge that only public business matter lawfully exempted from the opening meeting requirements were discussed and that only such public business matters were identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was convened, heard, discussed, or considered. If any member believes that there was a departure from the foregoing requirements should so state prior to the vote indicating the substance for departure that in his or her judgment has taken place. This requires a roll call vote Mr. Mayor.” Council Member Hill made a motion to return City Council into open session and certify the purposes of the closed session. The motion was seconded by Council Member Smith-Lee. The motion was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Myers, Hill, Smith-Lee, and Parham; Absent: Wilson-Smith 21-R-90 A RESOLUTION CERTIFYING, AS REQUIRED BY THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, SECTION 2.2- 3712, THAT TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER’S KNOWLEDGE, ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS OF VIRGINIA LAW WERE DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED SESSION, AND ONLY SUCH PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS AS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION CONVENING THE CLOSED SESSION WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED, OR CONSIDERED. City Council returned to opened session at 5:35 p.m. Council Member Myers stated that, “I motion to authorize Petersburg Public Schools to use any available funding at their disposal to repair the athletic field including any unexpended budgeted funding currently in their accounts.” Council Member Myers made a motion to authorize Petersburg Public Schools to use any available funding at their disposal to repair the athletic field including any unexpended budgeted funding currently in their accounts. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hill. The motion was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Myers, Hill, Smith-Lee, and Parham; Absent: Wilson-Smith Mayor Parham stated, “At this time I would like to entertain a motion to approve Mr. Arnold Westbrook to be appointed as the Interim Ward 7 Council Member here in the City of Petersburg.” Council Member Hill made a motion to appoint Mr. Arnold Westbrook as the Interim Ward 7 Council Member for the City of Petersburg. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Smith-Lee. The motion was approved on roll call vote. On roll call vote, voting yes: Cuthbert, Myers, Hill, Smith-Lee, and Parham; Absent: Wilson-Smith 21-R-91 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING ARNOLD WESTBROOK, JR. AS INTERIM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR WARD 7 FOR A TERM ENDING ON DECEMBER 31, 2022. Mayor Parham stated, “Congratulations Mr. Westbrook. At this time, we have our Clerk of Court here, Mrs. Parham. Mr. Westbrook we will do the swearing in right now.” Maytee Romero De Parham, Circuit Court Clerk, swore in Mr. Arnold Westbrook, Jr. Council Member Westbrook thank City Council for giving him the opportunity to serve as interim city council member. 3. ADJOURNMENT: *Audio available upon request. Minutes from the Petersburg City Council Closed Session meeting held on November 16, 2021 -3– City Council adjourned at 5:40 p.m. _________________________ Clerk of City Council APPROVED: _________________________ Mayor *Audio available upon request.